Controlling mechanism for phrasing-bars.



I C. W. DORRICOTT.

CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR PHRASING BARS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3.1912.

1,170,617. Patented Feb. 8, 19-16.

5 SHEE TS-SHEET I.

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fmr/efl/Zjornttt THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 0)., WASHINGTON, n. c.

c. w. DORRICOTT. CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR PHRASING' BARS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, I912 I I Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

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THE FPLUMBXA PLASIOFRAPH $20., \VVASHINGTON, D. c

G. W. DORRICOTT. CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR PHRASINGFBARS. APPLICATIONr1120 JULY 3. 1912.

} ww'w 'a c. w. DORRICOTT CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR PHRASING BARS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3. 1912.

- Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

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i it known that 1, .CHARLES Controlling .Mechanisin for f UNITED STATESI IATE OFFICE L "n'mrco'mxor man'rrnrnm; rnnnsyLvanm, 'ASSIGNOR T EIJEC-1mm: "conrmuw,"'o'r zmrnn nmirnm; .rEnnsYLvn-NIA, A CORPORATION orimmngvnmn.

mncH-nmsn' won rnimsmc rnns.

. speoinoation of reen s ment- P-aten bed Fieb. '8, 1916.

.mmatmnmed s, 191a. serial n. ?,524

. nom- 0TT.,.a citizenof ithe United States, residingat Philadelpl-iia,inithe countyof. Philadelphia and ,State .ofPennsylvania, have. in-

vented new and useful lmpnovementsin hrasing-Bars, of wh ch thefollowingzisa specification invention relatesto controlling mech- :anismfor manipulatingphrasin'gbars employed in musical instruments. While myinvent n is l-for general useit i flp Cia1ly ada ted for operatingflexible parts. Figure 1 is a andflcompos-ite phrasing bars employed inupright and grand pianos, whether adapted forfmanual playing, automaticplaying, or oth hand and automat-icplaying.

More particularly stated I seek to control various portions or sectionsof a composite phrasing bar by aid .ofthe improved levers of myzinventionin such manner as to give theoperator a wider rangev ofcontrol over the phrasing bar, and to-enable'him tolock the variousmovable portions of the phrasingibar in predetermined fixed positions atwi Myinvention also relates to-the construction {and operation ofexpression levers used for handlin the phrasing bar, soas to improve thee ciency of such levers andparts immediately associated therewith.

invention further relates to means for improving the efliciency of thevarious carts and connections more or less related 35 .0 the expressionmechanism for instruments. p a I a Reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of the specification, and in which like lettersindicate like fragmentary elevation shoW- ing my invention as applied toan upright piano. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary verticalpsection through anupright piano, and shows =thclocation of thephrasing'levers, thephrasthemagnet rail, and various other 7 ingbar, parts. Fig. 3 is a detailshowing in elevation the phrasing levers as. adjusted by and for varyingthe expression. Fig. 4' is a horizontal section showing the expressionlevers as folded back into normal or inactive position. Fig. '5 is adetail showing in section three of the rocking levers used for handlingthe phrasing' bar, and also showing parts associated with said rockinglevers. Fig.6 is a detail showing theconstnuction of :one of thebrackets. -Fig. 7 vis a deta l .showinghow all of the phrasing leversmay as a unit be locked in any desired predetermined. relative position.Fig. 8 -1s asection on the line 17-17 of Fig. 7

lookirrgin'the direction of the arrow. 7 Fig.

v 9 :a detail showing in elevation an eccen-- trio used for actuatingthe locking mechanism shownin Figs. i7 and 8. Fig. 10 is a fragmentarysection through a grand piano equipped with .my improved controllingmechanism, and also with my improved device for rendering the expression.mechanism inactive in order that the vpiano may be played by hand. Fig.11 is a section on the line 20.20 of Fig. 10, looking in the a directionof the arrow.

The casing of an upright piano is shown in position by aid of bolts 28.Mounted upon the brackets 27 is a magnet bar 29. Supported upon thismagnet bar are two brackets 30, and securedvto these brackets is astationary shaft Bl.

Journaledupon shaft 31 are three bell crank levers'32, 33, and 34, andconnected with these bell crank levers are three connecting rods 35, 36and 37 which are, in this instance, made of tough, heavy wire. Theserods are severally connected with expression levers 88, 39,40, thetformof which may be readily understood from Figs. 3 and 4.

Each expression lever is-prov ided at it forward end with clips4l, 42,43, each clip consisting of. a pair of outstanding parallellips betweenwhichYnorma'lly lies an 'extended foldable portion of the lever as willbe explained hereinafter. Pivotally mount- 1 ed uponthe forward end ofeach of the levers 38, 39 and 40 are foldablesecti'ons 44, 45, 46, whichcarry finger pieces 47, 48, and

' 49, that extend out in front of the key-board 'the' finger-pi'ecesbeing made preferably of hard rubber. Each section 44, 45,46, m vided atits pivotal end with a curved portion (see Fig. 3) integral with it, and

"adapted .to'serVe the'purpose of a camfo r holding the lever in adefinite depressed position when the sectionsare folded downward, asshown in Fig. Each section 44,

45, 46 ispivotally connected to its-;correspondingle ver 38, 39,40,byaid of a bolt 51 carried by the lever, andextending loosely through thesection encircling each bolt 51 is a'spiral' spring 52 which maintainsagentlepressure against the adjacent section,- i forcing it betweenthe;parallel lips or clips of'the co'rresponding lever'to hold the sec:

tions in" locked position, "but permitting lateral movementoftheseetions 44, 45,46, to free them'from locking engagement with"their clips. .The operator by grasping one' of the finger-pieces 47y48or 49 and impartinga' slight lateral and. sidewise movement thereto,which takesiit from between "the parallel lips before referred'to, mayturn thecorresponding section 44, 45, or 46 upon its pivot 'formed byits bolt-"51, and, by so doing may bringthe corresponding cam-likeportion '50 (see Fig. '3)" into either of the 1 positions shown. Thevlevers 38, 39 '40 are pivotally journaled upon a bearing '53as willbeunderstood-from Figs. 2 and 4 and swing upon their respective pivotal.supi ports as centers. The levers extend through ablock 54,.which isprovided with slots for this purpose, the several slots being fittedwith feltlinings 55, The block 54 is disposed upon the underside of thekey bed56.

A block 57 having more or less resemblance to the block 54 is similarlyprovidedwith slots which are fitt'edwith'lin'in'gs 58 of' 'felt, throughwhich the levers 38, 39, 40 extend. The block 57 is mountedrigi'dly upona slide 59, the latter'being fitted into a slide-way 60 carried by 'a'plate 61 as will be understood from Fig. 9. The plate '61 is providedwith, a lug 62 integral with it and serving as a bearings Extendingthrough this hearing is i a revoluble shaft 63carrying an eccentric 64.

The shaft 63 extends through another bearing 65, and is provided at'itsouteror free end with a handle- 66. 1 The operator by graspingthe handle66and'turning it causes the shaft 63 and eccentric64toturn, so that theeccentricis forced against the adjacent end of the block 57.. As thelevers 38', 3,9 40 extend through this block, and through the block54which'is fixed, as indicated in Figs.

Sand 9,;the movement 'of the' block 57 relatively. tothe block 54locks'the levers 37, 38,

39, 40 such respective positions as, they happen for the moment tooccupy. Asmay readily be'seen from thejforegoing descrip tion,therefore,1the expression flevers 38, 39,-

, 40 may' not only be depressed by hand to any desired extent withinreasonablelimits, but they may be held individually in the of whichthe'hammersma 67 integral with it. Another bra cket 68zis arms67 and thebracket 68 aremountedj two rocking j shafts 69, 70,: in alinement with ieach other. Another rocking shaft 71, par-1 allel with'the shafts justmentioned, is ournaledin the arms 67. ,Mounted rigidly upon 5 larlyuponfthe shaft arm 'Springs 7 3' are connected with the: arms fthe shaft69 is an.arm"72;*andrmounted simi 72 and extend therefrom; i: beingconnected "shaft 7.0, and the shaft ;71 carries a. straight i arm 77The'curv'ature of tl'1e, arms 75, 76 1 by aid'of holes 74" (see Fig;5)fwiththefronlt f'portions of'zthe respectivebrackets. 3

ed -rigidly' upon the-shaft 69 isacurved'varm J I 75. A similar arm 76"is mounted uponithe,

is such fas to bring their lower; ends. into substantially the same'verticalplane "as the lower endof the armi 77, as will be under- ;stoodfrom Fig. 2. arms 75am 7 (see Fig. 5) are by aid of connecting wires'78, V.

7 9 connected respectively with thebell' crank levers 32, 33,, eaohwirebeingsimplyhookedr into theflowerend of the bell crankyleve'r asindicated in this figure. w ienever abelll crank lever is rocked in aclockwise direction 7 according to Fig. 5, the proper arm is' rocked {inthe same direction.

Two flat bars80, 81 are mounted is "ends of the magnet rail 29', and attheir .e 5 upper ends support the outerends, o f' the shafts 70, 69.',The power sh'aft82 sup- 3 ported by the lower ends of the bars 80, 81

being :journal'ed therein. 'Anumber; of arms 83,84, 85,86 and 87 a'resupportedupon the t shafts 7,0, 71 and 69.")5Tl'1ese, areat their lowerends [connected to various hammer supporting sections 88,89, 90, 91"together forming a phrasing bar-through the medium and from the pianostrings.

926A stationary hammer rest, having gen- A 'erallytheform of a lengthybar, provided y be moved toward Th hammers of the piano are s owman witha" felted surface,is shown at 92 and' when thephrasing bar s movedoutofthe way,jfthehammers-inay engage the stationy mmerrest directly. The's trings are shown at 93,ai1d the stringypl ate at 9'4." I;

a ThebraCketsBO (see Fig.2)-areiprevid a withprojecting portions 101?,and extending through these are screw, bolts 1 01 which: arejfittedwithj nut 'looksl01, The screw bolts .1 Ol? being adjustedandftigh tened the aid of the nut locks, the swing offtheiarmfs I 84,85, 86, is limited to a 1 fedetermined angular position, andljthephrasing bar is thus effectively provided with limiting stops fordefining'its travel'towardthe 'rearof the strings. I The loudnessof, thesounds of the pianoisthus adjustable, for the' reason that the positionof the phrasing bar controls the length of travel of the hammers towardthe strings and consequently the loudness of the sounds. W hile,therefore, the expressionis"contr0llable thewill of the operbar sectionsto different positions of adjustator by the adjustment he gives todifferent portions of the phrasing bar, the limit of loudness,attainable by such control, is itself adjustable by the means justdescribed.

The operation of themechanism shown in Figs. 1a 9 inclusive, maybereadily understood fromthe foregoing description. The operator swing thehandles 47, 48, 49,

into either of several different positions and by" aid of these handlesthe various levers 38,39, 40 may be turned,"in different angularpositions relative to the general position of the piano as will beunderstood from Fig. 3. 'When the handles a7, 48, 49, are swungdownwardly and backward-1y to-their extreme positions beneaththe pianokey bed as indicated in Fig. 4 alllparts of the phras T By aidof thehandle 66, Ican turn the eccentric 66} and thus lock the various levers88, 39 and 40, severally in any desired position and thusset thedifferent sections of the phrasing bar todi-fferent positions ofadjustment so that when the piano isbeing played automatically andwithoutmanual assistance, certainexpression effects be had dependingupon the adjusted positions of the different sections of the phrasingbar. Also'by reason of the cam extensions on theinner end'of each of theswinging or foldable sections M, 4-5 and 46, I can in a li'kemanner setthecorresponding phrasing ment, this being accomplished by folding ormoving the swinging sections 44, iii-and 46 or either of them backwardto different positions as illustrated, for instance, in Fig. 3, whichbackward swinging movement of'the sections causes the cam extensions 50thereof to engage the under-side of the key base of the piano and thusdepress the levers 38, 39-and4Q or either of them to different .ex-

i tents, the said .cam portions 50 holding the levers so depressedandtoan extent depend.- ing upon the extent to whlch the swingingsection is moved backward. when the tamer? swinging or foldable sections:44, .45 and 46 are-foldedcompletely back :so that they lie parallelwith theirrespective levers "38,39 and 40, the phrasing bar as I a:whole -will be moved backward to ':its maximum position and thus bringthe piano. hammers '92 against the hammer rest rail '92 which; isthenormal position of the hammers whenthe latter are adj-ustedifor manualplaying. When the foldable sectionsgi lyrfi and 46 are in the positionlast referredto, by reason of the fact tha t the cam-porti0ns '50 bearsagainst the underside of-the key -bed of the piano with considerablepressure the .said folda'ble sections will'be held firmly intthisposition without ,requiring additional holding means as describedio rcompletely folded .back.

p For purposes ;of-;grand pianos, :I arrange the mechanism somewhatdifferently, the principles involved however :being. identicalwithvthose aboveset forth,.and used in connection with the uprightpiano.

Referring: more particularly to Figs. 10 and 11, the (casing of thegrand; piano :is shown at 101, thestrings at :102, and the hammers at108. The hammer rail 1104 oextends lengthwise of the piano. The .keysmay be of the usual pattern. The striker rods are shown atand-areactuated-by the player mechanism. Theupper ,ends of the strikerrodsare engaged .by the rear ends of ;the :keys. Extending lengthwise ofthe piano, and located beneath thekeys is'a mocking shaft '106, andmounted upon the latter are'ainumber of leafsprings 107 equal to thenumber .of keys. 'Each leaf spring Ji engages :the underside of a key,as will be understood from :Fig; 10. The'rocking shaft 106 carries. aradially projecting arm 108 which extends through a slot 109 in theboard 110,;the latter .being gdisposed below the keys. A cam llfiengages the arm 108,

and isnproviided with a handle 1l1. By turning this handle the cam 110is turned, and thearm- 108 causes the shaft 106 to rock.

When (the handle 1-11 {is turned into one of ends brought Pinto:operative relation to the playing mechanism. When, however, the cam 110is turnedintoitsopposite extreme position, the arm-108 causestheishatt;106 to rock inthereverse direction so that the -.,5 leafsprings 107,.are lowered,-and the keys their functions is greatlyincreased. For instance, a particular key 105 beingpressed upon by itsparticular spring;107 is held with a gentle pressure upon thecorresponding striker 'IOduAIf, now, under controlOf' the: playing.mechanism ,the. striker rod moves quickly-upward,- say-two or threestrokes in rapid succession, upon each descent of the strikerrod itisfolloWed-closely by the rear' endyof, the key, so that thereisnolostmotionand no loss oftime due to any lagging Iaction bythe key infollowing the striker rod. This is of very great importance in instancesWhere the music is 'to r be. played rapid-ly,;or where a particularnote'is repeated inlrapid succession; ,In such instances, it isdesirable that the lost motion above mentionedjmaybe obviated entirely..E xcept for the springs 107 taking care of this mattenias aboveexplained, not only would the undesirable lost motion be developed,butit would 'introducelthe diflicul ties stated; and inaddition-thereto, ,vvould introduce false rattlinga sounds of amechanical nature, and might even interfere and delica te however, forthe reasonthat otherwise they'wouldplace additional Work upon themovable keys. Mounted upon the undersideof the plate 110 isabracket 112,and adjacent to this bracketare three shafts 113,114,115; For thepurpose 'of rocking theseshafts :I' provide three levers 116, "117, 118.Eachjof these leversisjournaled in Each lever'at its rear end isconnected by 1 a link120with an arm1121, thel latter being securedauponthe adjacent shafts 113, 114 or115. These shafts are provided respectothe latterjareconnecting wires 125,126, "127. These wir'es are severallyconnected 7 withlevers 128, 129, 130, and these levers areconnectedwith. retracting springs 128. The "phrasing bar is made upiof sections131, 132, 133, 134, connected,togethersubstantially; as: above describedwithlreference toFigs'I3ito 9inclusive.lf The operation of the mechanismshown in *fl igs1O andll, bereadily understood may be actuated ithoutimpairment of the bracket 112' by aid of the pivot pin 119;

tiVelyWith'armsl 22, 123, 124 "and secured f om the o, for going descripion-2 herppeh ator moving-the handle 111 into fafsuit v ableposition,places the-pian'o infcondition forfman-ual playing, or mechanical'iplaying;

aS, the case may-be,f- Supposinglthat the mechanism is toybe playedmechanically,

described with reference to thef upright piano. The depressionofjtheselevers rocks the various shafts 1123, 114e, 115, andfin doing thiscauses the connecting wires 125, 126,

127 to be lowered, thus-pullingggdown the the distance from thehammers;103 to; the" strings; 102 with whichthey are associated.

in parallel planes as, above described, and the middle sections haveconsiderable angu'e lar' movement relatively to each;,other and to theend sections,: so that therange of ex:

li i d 8 above described, I V -rWhat Iclaim 182:, f

1,111 expression mechanism for musical instruments, a hammer-supportingphrasing-iba-r, separate manually operable leversthe fol-Ward end ofeafch lever, sai /Pivotal The end sections "of the f'phrasingbar move 1v I 'pr sion;- f the midd po n -.t e piano 3 is very; greatnotwithstanding the-fact that 7 an unusual number-tot 1 keys may; be semv eachhaving an operative 'connectionlwitha 1 part of, said bar, alaterally yieldable fingerpiece section havinga pivotal connection withv connection permitting lateralwdeflection of the free end of the saidsection-when th v parts are in alinement,-; and i t l ki means betweeneach leverandit fingelupiece 1 section to hold the partsin rigidrelation,

said-means requiring lateraldeflection of the finger-piece section,torbring the parts into 7 i and out of interlocking engagement.

1 2. The combination Wlth a musicalinstru ment embodying key board,hammers and strlngs, of expression mechan sm fon vary- 4 ing the strokeof the hammers,embodying a hammer rest-rail made in sections,. manually,operable expression levers, having l ope'rative -connect1ons W th sald-rest-ra11'secti'ons, and clamping means engaging oppositefaces ofsajidlevers for holding? the same In different adjusted positions 3. Thecombination of afmusical-linstrument provided with a casing and Withham-Ii mers, mechanism for varying-the [stroke of said hammers,"expression levers connected-y v with sand mechanlsm foractuating thesame,

Said levers being P vided Withioldable r 125 engaging said casing andthus holdin Saidg portions; havingcam-like; extensions lfor levers'individuallyz' in predetermined, posig tions;

1' Thecombination 'menthaving a zkeybed and hammers, "of; a

L .r so 1 sections 131,, 132, .1i33,i134,j and in r i ahammer-supporting phrasing bar, manually operable levers havingoperative .connections with said bar to alter the position of thehammers, said leversbeing pivotally supported beneath the key-bed, aswinging section pivotally connected to. the forward end of each leverand adapted to be swung back under the key-bed, means for holding eachlever and its section in rigid relation,

and means carried by each section adjacent its pivoted end for engagingthe underside of the key-bed and therebyv depressing its lever when thesection is the key-bed.

' 5. The combinatlon with a Inusical-instru-s ment having a key-bed'andfhamme'rs, of a hammer supporting phrasing bar, and 1nan-- uallyoperablelevers having operative con= nections with said bar forfmovin'gthe latter be swung back parallel with its lever and having a portionadjacent its pivoted end I 7 arranged to contact with the underside ofthe key-bed when the section is swung'back to hold the parts in adjustedpositions.

6. The combination with. a musical instrument embodying a key-board,hammers, and strlngs, of expression mechanism for vary-V ing the strokeof. the hammers embodying a hammer-rest rail; manually operableexpression levers having operative connections with said rail, groovedways in which said levers move, and means associated with said- Copiesof this patent may be obtained for swung back under nesses'.

levers for adjustably. clamping the latter he i against movement in'thewa s; whereby the levers may be held in "different adjusted positions.

7. The combination with a musical instrur ment embodying a key-board,hammers, and I strings, of expression'mechanism for varyv ing' thestroke ,ofthe hammers, embodying a hamme'r restrail manually operableeX-v pression levers having operative connections with said ra1l,clamping means for simultaneously engagingiopposite faces of all'saldlevers for holding the latterindifferent positio'nsof adjustment; andmeans foractu- I 'ating said clamping means.

8.'-In expression mechanism for musical 1 instruments, ahammer-supporting phrasing. bar, separate manually operable leverseachhaving an "operative connection with a part .of saidbar and each leverhaving laterally projectingficlips at its forward end, and a swingingfinger-piece section pivotally connected to the forward end ofeachlever, each section being arranged to take a position be- "tween theclips'on thevlever to which it is pivoted to hold the lever and sectionin rigid relation and adapted upon lateral movement thereof to bedisengaged from between the clips to enable the section to be swung backunder the piano key-bed.

In testimony-whereof I have hereunto set 4 my handin presence of twosubscribing wit e CHARLES W. DORRIOOTT." Witnesses: o o 1 v JOHN L;Connoe,

W. C. RAISNER. s s

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, IWashizigton,D.G.-

